Multiplex electrical conductor spreader

ABSTRACT

A hand tool for spreading apart a set of electrical conductors which are normally twisted together; and once spread, maintaining the spread conductors in a spaced apart condition, without further manipulation of the tool.

1 Nov. 11, 1975 5 United States Patent [191 Pyles 1 1 MULTIPLEX ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR 16 6 41) 1/1928 Samuel] ct n1. 2.841.364 7/1958 Prutt........m....... 3 295 810 1/1967 SPREADER Manuel A. Pyles, Cincinnati. Ohio Assignec:

Agent. or Firm-Wood, Hcrron 8-: Evans [22] Filed: Mar. 26, 1975 [21] App]. No.: 562,178

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apart condition. without further manipulation of the tool.

6 Claims. 10 Drawing Figures 1.375.065 Ruynuud MULTIPLEX ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR SPREADER This invention relates to a method and apparatus for spreading apart a set of normally twisted electrical conductors and more particularly to a hand tool and its method to enable a lineman or the like to spread apart a set of twisted conductors, and once spread, maintain them while tap connections are being made.

In the distribution of electrical power, electrical lines known as triplexed secondaries" are used to distribute electrical power to residential and commercialusers. The triplexed secondary distribution line is composed of two insulated electrical conductors wrapped helically around a third non-insulated conductor The bare or non-insulated conductor leg is a neutral messenger or ground conductor while the two insulated conductors are typically energized and hence are known as hot" legs.

Often, a single triplexed secondary distribution line is used to supply a number of different residential or commercial customers with electrical power. Hence, it is necessary to tap the triplexed secondary line at various points along its length so that electrical power can conveniently be provided to multiple users from the same triplexed secondary.

Tapping the triplexed secondary distribution line is accomplished by attaching an electrical connector known as a midspan tap to the individual insulated conductors and a neutral connector which serves as a separator and dead-end for service drop cables. The construction of the mid-span and neutral connectors are such that when the conductors of the triplexed secondary are connected, the individual conductors in the vicinity of the connections are spaced from each other. This is in contrast to the normal situation in which the conductors are twisted and hence contact each other. Once the connector taps have been secured to the conductors of the triplexed secondary, triplexed service drop connectors from the individual residential or commercial customers are connected to the tap to distribute power to such customers.

In the course of connecting a mid-span tap to a triplexed secondary distribution line, it is necessary to spread the conductors, particularly the hot legs, and once they are spread maintain them in a spread condition while the mid-span tap and neutral connectors are being connected. Of course, after the mid-span tap connection is completed, the conductors of the triplexed secondary remain spread in the region of the taps by virtue of the construction of the connectors themselves.

To facilitate spreading the conductor of a triplexed secondary while a mid-span tap is being connected, a variety of spreading tools have been proposed. For various reasons, such as expense, difficulty of use and mechanical stability, the proposals heretofore made have not been entirely satisfactory. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,352,301 and 3,734,462 disclose spreaders in the form of large screws which are threaded between two conductors to be spread. Once the device has been threaded between a pair of conductors it maintains the conductors in a spread condition without further manual intervention. The disadvantage of this approach,

however, is the bulkiness and cost of the tool itself, and the fact that it takes longer to actually spread the conductor with the tool than other approaches. In addition,

the device is incapable of spreading three conductors simultaneously; if three conductors are to be spaced, two devices are necessary.

Another approach is found in the tool disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,841,364. In accordance with this tool, a pair of spaced angulated studs are provided in the central portion of a long bar. The studs are inserted between the conductors to be spread and the handle gripped at its opposite ends and rotated spreading the conductors. The problem with this tool is that both hands of the user must engage the tool to spread the conductors. A further disadvantage is that once the conductors are spread the tool is mechanically unstable in the sense that if it is accidentally bumped, the tension of the spread conductors can snap the tool back to its initial position with the conductors contacting each other. Various other approaches have been used, each of which have one or more disadvantages with respect to cost, ease of use and/or mechanical stability.

Other schemes have been proposed, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,174,723, 3,269,706 and 3,425,114, operating on a scissors-like principle. However, each requires two hands to operate and due to the number and complexity of moving parts, is relatively expensive.

Accordingly, it has been an objective of this invention to'provide an inexpensive conductor spreading tool which can be used with one hand and which, once the conductors have been spread, is mechanically stable such that if accidentally bumped it will not revert to its initial position, placing the conductors in contact. This objective has been accomplished in accordance with certain of the principles of the invention by providing a tool which includes (a) a nonconductive bar from which a pair of parallel nonconductive studs project perpendicularly, the studs having a pointed tip to facilitate initial insertion thereof between the conductors to be spread and grooves at the base for engaging the conductors once the studs have been fully inserted therebetween, (b) an elongated handle extending from the bar in a direction perpendicular to both the studs and the bar which, once the studs are fully engaged between the conductors can be rotated 90 to thereby spread the conductors, and (c) a fastening device provided at the end of the handle which, once the conductors have been spread and the handle is parallel to the conductors, can be engaged with the conductors tomaintain the tool in its operative position with the conductors spread by the studs.

The tool of this invention, from a structural standpoint, is extremely simple, and hence inexpensive to manufacture. It is also easy to use in that it can be operated to spread a cabled construction with only one hand of the lineman. Finally, once it has been used to spread apart the triplexed construction, it is mechanically stable and cannot, if inadvertently bumped, revert to its initial position in which the twisted conductors are in contact.

These and other advantages and objectives of the invention will become more readily apparent from the detailed description thereof taken in connection with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a preferred embodiment of the multiplex electrical conductor spreader of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a set of twisted conductors showing the pointed studs of the multiplex electrical conductor spreader partially inserted between the conductors to be spread with the bar mounting the studs generally parallel to the conductors and the handle generally perpendicular thereto; FIG. 2a is a vertical cross-sectional view through the conductors taken generally along the lines 2a-2a of FIG. 2, showing the pointed studs of the spreader partially inserted between the conductors to be spread;

FIG. 2b is a vertical cross-sectional view through the conductors taken generally along the lines 2a--2a of FIG. 2, showing the studs fully inserted between the conductors to be spread with the conductors engaged in the circumferential grooves at the base of the studs;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a set of twisted conductors showing the spreader handle rotated through an angle of approximately 45 and the conductors partially spread by the studs;

FIG. 3a is a vertical cross-sectional view through the conductors taken generally along lines 3a3a of FIG. 3, showing the spreader handle rotated approximately 45 and the conductors partially spread;

FIG. 4'is a side elevational view of a set of twisted conductors showing the spreader handle fastened parallel to the conductors, the spreader having been rotated 90 and the conductors spread to a maximum extent;

FIG. 4a is a vertical cross-sectional view through the conductors taken generally along lines 4a4a of FIG.

4, showing the spreader rotated 90 with the handle parallel to the conductors and the conductors spread to a maximum extent;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the outer endof the spreader handle showing another version of the fastener for temporarily securing the handle parallel to the conductors; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the spreader handle showing a still further version of the fastener for temporarily securing the handle parallel to the conductors.

By way of background, and with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the tool 10 of this invention is designed for spreading a pair of conductors, such as conductors 11 and 12, which are normally twisted along their length with respect to each other as well as with respect to a third conductor 13. Typically, conductors 11 and 12 are insulated electrical conductors to which a voltage is applied, commonly known as the hot legs of a triplex secondary distribution line, while conductor 13 is a bare or non-insulated neutral messenger or ground wire which forms the third conductor of the triplex secondary distribution line. The tool 10 of this invention is usedto spread the insulated conductors 11' and 12 so that an electrical connector assembly, termed a midspan tap (not shown), can be conveniently secured to the conductors. Since mid-span taps are well known in the industry and since further they form no part of this invention, additional description thereof is not provided.

Referring to FIG. 1, the tool 10 of this invention includes a generally straight bar 18. Extending perpendicularly from the bar 18 adjacent opposite ends thereof are a pair of studs 20A and 20B which are gen- 4 and the cylindrical end 24 of the stud 20A locks the stud in socket 26 with'respe'ct to both axial and rotational motion relative to'the longitudinal axis 30 of the stud. The stud 20A is provided with a circumferential Y groove 32 proximate the bar 18 which seats. in a manner to be described hereafter, one of the two conduc tors 11, 12 being spread. The outer end 34 of the stud 20A. is conical, terminating in a pointed tip 36. The tool also includes an elongated handle 38. The

handle 38 has its inner end 38B positioned in a socket. 1

formed in the bar 18 and is secured against both axial and rotational motion by a pin 39. Thehandle 38 is disposed generally perpendicularly to both the studs 20A and 20B and the bar 18. For convenience, the handle 38 has a length Y approximately 4 times the spacing X the handle to the twisted conductors 11-13 when the I conductors 11 and 12 have been spread, all in a manner. to be apparent hereafter. The fastener 40, in one pre-:

ferred embodiment, is a closed loop 42 of flexible cable having a total length of approximately 16 inches. The

loop 42 passes through a hole 44 in the end ofthe handle 38 at a distance Z of approximately l-2 inches from I the end 38A thereof. In use, and as will become more erally parallel to each other and spaced apart a distance X approximating that to which it is desired to spread the wires 11 and 12. The studs 20A and 20B are identical in structure and hence only stud 20A is described in 1 detail. Stud 20A includes inner cylindrical end 24 which is seated in a blind hole or socket 26 formed in the bar 18. A pin 28 passing through both the bar 18 apparent hereafter, the loop 42, after the tool 10 has been used to spread the conductors l1 and 12, encircles the twisted conductors 11-13, with the loop end 42A engaged over the handle 38 between the hole 44 and the handle outer extremity 38A, as'shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1 and in solid lines in FIG..4.

In operation, the tool 10 is utilized to spread the conductors l1 and 12 of a triplexed secondary distribution line containing twisted conductors 11, 12 and 13. Specifically, the tool 10 is first disposed such that the bar 18 is generally parallel to the twisted conductors ll-13 and the handle 38 approximately perpendicular thereto. The tips 36 of the studs 20A and 20B are then].

inserted between conductor pairs 11, 13 and I2, 13, re-

spectively, as shown in FIG. 2a. With the bar 18 parallel to the conductors 11-13 and the handle 38 perpen-. dicular thereto, the studs 20A and 20B are. pushedin. the direction of arrow 45 (FIG. 211) relative to the conductors 11-13 until the conductors 1 1-13 seat in the grooves 32 (FIG. 2b). With the conductors 11-13 engaged in grooves 32, the tool handle 38 is rotated in a direction 47 about an imaginary line. 49 passing through the pin 39 in the bar 18 fromits initial position perpendicular to the conductors 11-13 (FIG. 2) tothe.

position shown in FIGS. 4 and 4a in which the bar 18 is.

perpendicular to the conductors 11-13 and the handle. 38 is parallel to the conductors. This rotationcan be effected with only one hand by the lineman using the tool 10. In the course of rotation of the handle 38 from the, position shown in FIGS. 2 and 2b to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 4a, the tool 10 passes through an intermediate position shown in FIGS. 3 and 3a. In the tool position shown in FIGS. 3 and 3a, the conductors 11 and 12 are partially spread. In the final positionof the tool 10 shown in FIGS. 4 and 4a, the conductors 11 With the tool in the position shown in FIGS.-4 and 4a, the handle 38 which is disposed parallel to the conductors 11-13, is secured in place about the conductors by encircling the loop 42 around the conductors and thereafter placing the loop end 42A around the portion of the handle 38 lying between the hole 44 and the handle. outer extremity 38A. The tool 10 is now temporarily secured in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 4a with the conductors 11 and 12 spread apart. The lineman using the tool 10 can now work with both hands to secure a suitable mid-span tap or connector (not shown) to the conductors 11-13 without further attention to, or need for, manipulating the tool 10. When the mid-span tap or connector (not shown) has been secured to the conductors 11-13, the end 42A of the loop 42 is slipped off the outer end of the handle 38 and the loop 42 unwrapped from the conductors 11-13. The handle 38 can now be rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGS. 2-4, and the studs A and 20B disengaged from the conductors.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the closed loop 42 of flexible cable has been replaced by a length of flexible cable 50, the inner end of which is secured to the handle at a distance Z from the free end thereof. A loop or ring 51 is secured to the outer end of the cable 50. In operation, when the conductors 11 and 12 have been spread to their maximum extent as shown in FIGS. 4 and 4aand the handle 38 is disposed parallel to the conductors 11-13, the cable 50 is wrapped around the conductors and the loop 51 slipped over the end of the handle to secure the tool in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 4a in much the same manner that the loop 42 of the tool embodiment of FIG. 1 was wrapped around the conductors and the end 42A thereof engaged with the outer end of the handle to secure the tool in the position shown in FIG. 4.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6, the handle 38 at its outer end is provided with a stud 55 which extends from the handle in a direction generally parallel to studs 20A and 20B. The stud 55 has a generally pointed outer end 56 and an intermediate circumferential groove 57. In operation, when the tool 10 has been placed in the position shownin FIGS. 4 and 4a with the conductors 11 and 12 spread to their maximum extent and the handle 38 parallel to the conductors, the stud 55 is inserted between any two of the conductors 11-13. With the stud 55 so inserted, the conductors engage the groove 57 to lock the handle in a position parallel to the conductors, similar to that shown in FIG; 4.

Preferably the materials from which the tool 10 is constructed are nonconductive, such as plastics, wood, ceramic or the like, to reduce electrical shock hazards should one or more of the conductors 11-13 be energized. Of course, this is not essential if the conductors are not energized when worked upon, or other appropriate safeguards and precautions are taken to avoid electric shock.

While the invention has been described in connection with reference to specific dimensions X, Y and Z for certain elements of the tool, it is understood that these are only illustrative and that the various parts of the tool can be sized according to considerations of strength, convenience, etc.

What is claimed is:

l. A tool for spreading apart a specified distance a pair of twisted conductors of a triplex conductor as- 6 sembly extending in a predetermined direction comprising:

a generally straight elongated bar,

first and second studs each having an inner end secured to said bar and an outer end, said studs being disposed generally parallel to each other and extending from said bar in the same direction with a separation therebetween approximately equal to the specified distance it is desired to spread the twisted conductors, said studs each further being disposed generally, perpendicular to said bar, each stud having a generally conical outer end to facilitate initial partial insertion between the twisted conductors and a circumferenital groove proximate said inner end for seating one of the twisted conductors of the triplexed assembly when the conductors are spread apart,

a generally straight elongated handle having an inner end and an outer end, said inner end of said handle being secured to said bar to dispose said handle generally perpendicular to both said bar and said stubs to facilitate, when said handle is rotated about an axis parallel to said studs, rotation of said bar from a first position parallel to said conductors, with the studs inserted between said conductors seated in the grooves thereof and the conductors closely spaced, to a second position perpendicular to said conductors with the studs between said conductors engaged in the grooves thereof and the conductors spread apart, and

a fastener connected to said outer end of said handle, said fastener being engageable with said twisted conductors at a point spaced from said studs when said handle is disposed parallel thereto to maintain said bar perpendicular to said twisted conductors with the twisted conductors seated in said grooves and spread apart by said studs.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein said fastener includes a length of flexible cable secured to said handle a relatively short distance from the outer end thereof to enable said cable to encircle said twisted conductors and be temporarily secured to said outer end of said handle at a point spaced from said studs to maintain said bar perpendicular to said spread conductors.

3. The tool of claim 2 wherein said length of flexible cable includes a closed loop capable of simultaneously encircling said twisted conductors and said outer end of said handle at a point spaced from said studs to maintain said bar perpendicular to said spread conductors.

4. A method of spreading a conductor assembly and maintaining it in a spread condition comprising the steps of:

inserting between the twisted conductors the pointed ends of a pair of conical parallel studs which extend perpendicularly from a bar, while the bar is parallel to the conductors,

fully inserting the studs between the twisted conductors by relative movement of conductors along the axis of the studs while the bar is parallel to the conductors to seat the conductors in circumferential grooves provided in the studs proximate the bar to which they are mounted at their inner ends,

rotating the bar 90 to spread the conductors by pivoting a handle which extends from the bar perpendicularly to both the bar and the studs, from a position perpendicular to the conductors to a position parallel to the conductors, and

twisted conductors at a point spaced from the studs while the handle is parallel thereto and thereafter temporarily securing the cable to the outer end of the hanv dle.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said handle securing step includes encircling a loop of flexible cable se cured to the outer end of the handle around the twisted conductors at a point spaced from the studs while the handle is parallel thereto and thereafter encircling the outer end of the handle with a portion of the loop to temporarily secure the handle parallel to the twisted conductors.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Q PATENT NO. 1 3,918,684

DATED November 11, 1975 INVENTOR'r'S') Manuel A. Pyles It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent Q are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 9, insert "10" after the word "tool".

a Claim 1, Column 6, line 22, "stubs" should be studs.

Signed and Scaled this seventeenth Day f February 1976 [SEAL] Attest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner of Parents and Trademarks 

1. A tool for spreading apart a specified distance a pair of twisted conductors of a triplex conductor assembly extending in a predetermined direction comprising: a generally straight elongated bar, first and second studs each having an inner end secured to said bar and an outer end, said studs being disposed generally parallel to each other and extending from said bar in the same direction with a separation therebetween approximately equal to the specified distance it is desired to spread the twisted conductors, said studs each further being disposed generally perpendicular to said bar, each stud having a generally conical outer end to facilitate initial partial insertion between the twisted conductors and a circumferenital groove proximate said inner end for seating one of the twisted conductors of the triplexed assembly when the conductors are spread apart, a generally straight elongated handle having an inner end and an outer end, said inner end of said handle being secured to said bar to dispose said handle generally perpendicular to both said bar and said stubs to facilitate, when said handle is rotated 90* about an axis parallel to said studs, rotation of said bar from a first position parallel to said conductors, with the studs inserted between said conductors seated in the grooves thereof and the conductors closely spaced, to a second position perpendicular to said conductors with the studs between said conductors engaged in the grooves thereof and the conductors spread apart, and a fastener connected to said outer end of said Handle, said fastener being engageable with said twisted conductors at a point spaced from said studs when said handle is disposed parallel thereto to maintain said bar perpendicular to said twisted conductors with the twisted conductors seated in said grooves and spread apart by said studs.
 2. The tool of claim 1 wherein said fastener includes a length of flexible cable secured to said handle a relatively short distance from the outer end thereof to enable said cable to encircle said twisted conductors and be temporarily secured to said outer end of said handle at a point spaced from said studs to maintain said bar perpendicular to said spread conductors.
 3. The tool of claim 2 wherein said length of flexible cable includes a closed loop capable of simultaneously encircling said twisted conductors and said outer end of said handle at a point spaced from said studs to maintain said bar perpendicular to said spread conductors.
 4. A method of spreading a conductor assembly and maintaining it in a spread condition comprising the steps of: inserting between the twisted conductors the pointed ends of a pair of conical parallel studs which extend perpendicularly from a bar, while the bar is parallel to the conductors, fully inserting the studs between the twisted conductors by relative movement of conductors along the axis of the studs while the bar is parallel to the conductors to seat the conductors in circumferential grooves provided in the studs proximate the bar to which they are mounted at their inner ends, rotating the bar 90* to spread the conductors by pivoting a handle which extends from the bar perpendicularly to both the bar and the studs, from a position perpendicular to the conductors to a position parallel to the conductors, and securing the outer end of the handle to the conductors at a point spaced from the studs to maintain the bar perpendicular to the spread conductors and the handle parallel to the twisted conductors.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said handle securing step includes encircling a length of flexible cable secured to the outer end of the handle around the twisted conductors at a point spaced from the studs while the handle is parallel thereto and thereafter temporarily securing the cable to the outer end of the handle.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said handle securing step includes encircling a loop of flexible cable secured to the outer end of the handle around the twisted conductors at a point spaced from the studs while the handle is parallel thereto and thereafter encircling the outer end of the handle with a portion of the loop to temporarily secure the handle parallel to the twisted conductors. 